Freewheeling mechanism



Patented Nov. 26, 17935 I' UNITso s'rATEs FREEWHEELING vintensiviert y vHenry Robbins, Muncie, assignonby mesn'e assignments, to Borg-Warner (.lorpora'f-"- t i, tion, Chicago, Ill., a corporation oi' Illinois application octber V15, v1920, sensa Namasc My invention relates primarily ltofimprovements in automobile transmissions and more particularly to that type of transmission which has become known commercially as lthe free-wheeling transmission wherein-'provision is made for the rotation of the vdriven shaft of the transmission independently of thedriving shaft, in event the momentum-of the automobiledrives 'the driven shaft at a higherspeed than that of the driving shaft. f I

t It is one-of the objects of my invention to provide fa structure having the Labove 'characteristics, in which the shifting of the transmission may Abe, made extremely simple and in vwhich the member toy be shiftedfmay be extremely light as compared with the shiftable member of certain present transmissions having this characteristic.V

'For the purpose of disclosing my invention I `-have illustrated e certain embodiments thereof in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. ll is a side elevation partially in section of 'a transmissionembodying my invention; 1

Fig. 2 is a detailed sectionallview of the freewheeling mechanism; v

Fig. 3 is` a transverse'sectional view of the freewheeling clutch;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional-view of a modi- I fied formN-of the free-wheeling mechanism;

f Fig. 5 is a 'transversesectional viewof the freewheeling clutch shown in Fig/'4;

-Flg.6 is a longitudinalsectional view of a other modification of the free-wheeling mechamsm;

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a certain'modication; and f Fig."8" isa longitudinal sectional view of another modiilcation of my invention.A

In the structure illustrated in Figs. A1, rii; and 3 inclusive, I 'provide the usual transmission case i,

into which projects" the driving shaft! andthe driven shaft 3,the'driven shaft beingpilotedin the driving shaft as' at l. In addition'to the' v inademen to the gear man the driven snm;

I mount a'gear il on the driven shaft,"which gear is normally freely rotatable on the shaft. f This gear is mounted on an ,unsplined portion i5 of the shaft and is held against axial displacement `by, a .ring i8 secured to theend of the hub vof the gear lland having a shoulderl i1 overhang- 5 ing airing I8 secured on theshaft I,l which ring is 'set in annular slot in the' shaft to be held against axial displacement. The hub of the gear' I4 is also provided with an annular ring l il' having exteriorteeth I8 thereon and provided 10 with internal teeth meshing with external teeth 1 onthe hub ,il to prevent` relativerotation between` the-A ring and the hub. This ring, is also held against axialdisplacement by suitable means as screwsk or the-like (not shown) Mounted on 1li member is 4provided on its inner facewith a plu- 20 rality of cam `surfaces 4v22 having shoulders 23 against which abut coiled springsgu, biasing members 25 towards the lowest part of the cam :and thereby.' -the series of rollers in the same direction; This outer member 2| is pro- 25 vided: with a series of clutch teeth 26 adapted to be engaged by the internal clutch teeth 21 on the yclutch nagaan, and' it wmbe noted that inter- `mediatethel length of this clutch ring 28 vrthe 'teeth 21 arehigher as at 29. l The purposeof this 30 'construction will appear lmore' fully hereinafter.v vArranged on each'side of theouter member 2| `of the over-running clutch'is a pair of rings '30 l and'll provided respectively with clutchteeth 32 and 3l. These rings are'keyed to the shaftl I5 35 -by suitable key members 'Il and are provided with annular hubs extending beneath the outer member 2| and `adapted to maintain the rollers 20` vin position against axial displacement.y l

` The drive shaft' 2 is provided with a kring 35 illy having clutch teeth 31 and is locked to the' shaft -by means of internall meshing external teeth on-theshaft;v L, t A y In operationthe driven shaft I is operated at low byshifting Vthe gear I3 into mesh with 45 l the gearl.v If it be vdesired-todrive'theQdriven shaft'S: at second speed the'clutch ring- 281 is shifted until the teeth 21 engage withthe teeth i9 e Iof the'gear H. connects the gearfil Ato the shaftv 2' through Vthe o'verrunnlng clutchy mech- 50 anismjso that, in event the speed of the shaft 3 becomes greaterthan the speed ofthe shaft 2 the shaft 3l may operate independently of the shaft 2, althOugh-whell vthe Shaft l il!L driving' th shaft j l the two shafts connected; If it be desired 55;

lock out the overrunning clutch while driving at second speed the clutch ring 23 is moved further to the right, looking at Fig. 2, until the long teeth 23 mesh with the teeth 32 so that, in view of the 5 fact that the teeth 21 are still in mesh with the teeth I3, the gear I4 is locked directly to the shaft to turn Awith the yshaft in either direction and the overunning clutch is locked out. If -it be desired to operate the shaft 3 directly from shaft 2 and in "high", the clutch ring 23 is moved to the left looking at Fig. 2 until the teeth 21 mesh with the teeth 31and the shaft lisgdriven by the shaft 2 through the overrunning clutch. A continued movement of the control ring 23 in the f same direction will engage the high teeth 23 with Y teeth 33 thereby locking the shafts 3 and 2 together to drive the shaft 3 in either direction, thus locking out the overrunning clutch.

In the structure illustrated in Fig. 4, I have 2o shown a modiiied arrangement of my invention wherein two overrimning clutches are provided, one for the secondspeed gear and the other for the third or high speed connection. In this structure the second speed gear I4 is locked on a hub 25 33 freely rotatable on a barrel portion 33 of the shaft 3. This hub has an inwardly extending annular iiange 43 which overhangs the barrel portion 33 to prevent axial displacement ofy the hub in one direction. This hub is provided with clutch teeth 4I, the purpose of `which will appear morefully hereinafter. 'Ihe gear II is provided with a ring 42 locked thereon by suitable keys 43 similar to the keys44 for locking thev gear I4 in l position, and this ring is provided with clutch 35 teeth 45. 'Ihe overrlmning clutch structure comprises two overrunning clutches. each one' of which is of similar construction. A cam ring 4t is splined on the shaft 3 andthis cam ring is provided with a `plurality of caml surfaces 41. on 40 which operates a series of cam rollers 43, the rollers of each series gradually diminishing in diameter. Surrounding the rollers is an-outer clutch ring 43 provided with peripheral clutch teeth 53. A second cam ring 5I having similar 45 rollers 52 is mounted on the shaftl 3 and this ring and the rollers are surrounded by a clutch ring 53 provided with radial teethV 54. Interposed between these two overrunning clutches is a toothed ring 55 splined on the shaft 3 and provided-with radial clutch teeth 53. 'I'his structure comprising the two overrunning clutches and the ring 55,

it will be noted is held against axial displacement between the toothed ring 42 and the hub 33. A

clutch ring 51 surrounds the two overrunning 55 clutch members and is provided with two sets of Lclutch teeth153 and 53. This ring is provided ,with an annular groove 33 by which it may be shifted in one direction or the other by means of i the ordinary shifter fork of the transmission shifting mechanism. When the clutch ring 3,1 is

shifted to thev right until the teeth 53 mesh with the teeth 4I, the teeth 53 being still in meshwith the teeth 54, the gear I4 is connected tothe driven shaft 3 through the overrunning clutch including lthe clutch members 5I zand 53. If the lclutch member 51 is shiftedv further to the right with the teeth 53 still in engagement'with the teeth 4I but with the teeth 53 meshing with the teeth 53 the gear I4 will be connected to the shaft 3 for driving in either direction and the over-running4 clutch will be locked out.

If on the other hand the clutch member 51 is shifted to the left meshing teeth 53 with the teeth 45, the shafts 2 and 3 will be directly connected '15 together through the overrunning clutch. in-

3 and an overrunning clutch ring 33.

' vided with internal teeth meshing with external teeth on the hub of the gear I4 for locking the ring and gear against relative rotation and is provided with external teeth 33. A similar clutch ring 34 is mounted on the shaft 2. overrunning 15 clutch rollers 35 .are interposed between the shaft The ring 33 is of substantially the same construction, so far as the overrunning clutchA arrangement is shown, as that shown in Fig. 3, and is provided 2o with clutch teeth 31. Arranged on either side of the ring 33 are lock out rings 33 and 39, having internal splines meshing with splined portions 10 on the shaft 3 to prevent relative rotation between the rings and the shaft and the ring 33 is 25 provided with clutch teeth 1I, while the ring 63 is provided lwith similar clutch teeth 12. Surrounding this Vportion is a clutch ring 13 having teeth 14 adapted to engage with the teeth 1I and teeth 15 adapted to engage with the teeth 12. In 30 this structure the parts are locked up against axial displacement between the rings 32 and 64, the

4ring 32 being prevented from axial displacement in one direction by the hub of the gear I4 and being held against axial displacement in the op- 33 posite direction by the teeth I I on the shaft 2.

In this structure when the clutch ring 13 is shifted toy the right, teeth 15 mesh with teeth 31 and teeth 14 mesh with teeth 63 thereby connecting the gear I4 to the shaft 3 through the 40 overrunning clutch. A further shift to the right meshes teeth 15 with the teeth 1I so that the gear I4 is connected to the shaft 3 through the lock out ring 33 whereby the gear will rotate with the shaft in either direction. A shift to the left 45 meshing teeth 15with the teeth 13 on the ring 34 directly connects the shafts 2 and, 3 together through the overrunning clutch. `A further shift to the left meshes teeth 14 with the teeth 12 of the lock out ring 33 thereby connecting the shafts. 2 50 and 3 together fordrive in either direction.

. In Fig. 7 I have illustrated another` modiilcation of my invention and in this structure the gear wheel I4 is provided with an extended sleeve I4', the lgear and sleeve being freely ro- 55 tatable on the shaft 3. A ring 11 is mounted on this sleeve, having a series of teeth intermeshing with teeth on the sleeve to prevent relative rotation between the two. This sleeve forms one `member of an overrunning clutch'. The opposite 00 and outer member 13 of this clutch has its inner surfaces 4cammed as is the outer member 2| of `the clutch shown in Fig. 3 and interposed between sleeve and this outer member 13 are suitable overrunning clutch rollers 13.` 'I'his outer 05 member is provided with teeth 30. A lock out ring 3| is secured on the shaft 3 by suitable splines 32 and this ring is provided with teeth 33. The end of the shaft 2 is extended to form the inner member 34 of an overrunning clutch hav- 70 y t 2,022,480 `provided with sans' u secured themohfsgainst rotation -byy suitable lteeth intermeshing with teethjon the shaft! and held against'axialdis- .placement by locking pinsA 89. It will be knoted In ,operation whenthe clutch member 99 is shiftedA to the right to engage-the teeth 92 with the teeth 9,9, the gear Il is connected tov the shaft I throughthe overrunning clutchincluding the outer member 19. A further shift to theright the teeth 9.3 onthe ring 11 lockingcut the overrunningvv clutch and 'connecting the gear'il tothe shaft 3 for a drive in either direction. A similar shift 'of the clutch ring 99, from neutral, to the left first meshes teethf9| withteeth A93.` teeth l92 being alreadyin mesh with V,teeth 91, therebyr obtaininga direct drive ofthe shaft.) from the shaft! through the overrunning clutch4 including the clutch member 96,. -A continuedl shift tothe left meshes teeth 92 with the teeth 94 of thering 99 thereby-locking out the overrunning clutch and connecting the shafts 2 and-'3 together a drive in either direction. v

A furtherfmodication of invention .is illustrated. in Fig. 8. In'this structure the gear I4 is mounted on a freely-rotatable hub mounted on a barrel portion 99of the shaft 3. This hub is provided with an inwardly extending annular flange 91 which overhangs the barrel portion 99 holding the hub 95 against axial displacement in A one` direction. 'I'he hub 99 is provided with peripheral teeth 98. 'Iheinner member 99 of an overrunning clutch is splined on the shaft I and this inner member is provided with camsurfaces like the inner member 49 of llthe clutchk structure illustrated in Fig. 5. Clutch rollers |99 are arranged on this inner member and these clutch rollers, are surrounded by an'outer clutch member |9 I, which is provided with an inwardly extending flange |92 overhangig the ends `of the rollers to prevent axial displacement thereof f parts described, and this ring is provided withinternal teeth |99 at one end and 'with a set of internal teeth ||9 at the opposite end.

In the operation of this structure when the clutch ring |98 is moved to the rightl until :the teeth |99 bridge the teeth |99 and 99 the gear Il is connected to the shaft l through the overrunning clutch. -A further movement of the clutch ring |99 to the right meshes teeth ||9 with teeth'l95 and moves teeth |99 out ofengagement with' teeth |93 but still in engagement with teeth 98. Under these circumstances the gear I4 is connected to the shaft through the ring |94, locking out the overrunning clutch and connecting the gear lI4 to the shaft for a drive in either direction. A shift ofthe clutch ring |99 to the left meshes teeth ||9 with |91 leaving teeth |99 to mesh with |99.' This connects the yshirts `z and s thmsh thsoverrunmhg clutch. A continued shift to the leftcauses teeth |99 'tfbridge teeth |93 'and |95,l leaving teeth Li lo stin meshing' with teeth |01 and this arrangement locks out the overrunning clutch`.,permit 5 ting s direct drive. between shaftsr z` and" s jih- ,either direction.

I.y claim as my invention: b 1.,In1a transmission including speed changing gears, the combination 'with a driving `member 10 and a driven member, of an overrunning'clutch includingan inner-.member andan outer member, one of said membersy having cam surfaces vand wcdsing. members .interposed between said vrinner andouter members, andy means axially`l5 shiftable independently )of said overrunning clutch and any of the speed changing gearsfor ofthe clutch member 99 meshes teeth 9| with v.gather through said overrunning clutch, saidv means being also operable to connect .said driv- 20 coupling said driving and driven members toing and driven members together independently of saidoverrunning clutch.

inner .andi outermembers, `and means axially. shiftable independentLv of 'said overrunning clutch 30 and anyl of the yspeed changing gears for coupling said .Y .driving and driven members together throughsaid overrunning clutch, said means being also operable by a continued axial vmovement in the same'direction to connect said driving and 35 driven members together independentlyr of'said overrunning clutch. 3. Ina transmission including speed changing gears, the combination with a driving member and a driven member, of an overrunning clutch 40 surrounding said ydriven member and including an inner member and an outer member, one of said .membershaving camsurfacesfand -wedging n members interposed between said inner and outer members, and means' axially shiftable inde- 45 pendentiy of said overrunning clutch and any of the speed changing Sears for coupling said driving and driven members together through said overrunning clutch, said means being also operable to connect said driving and driven members 50 together independently of said overrunning clutch. I

4.' In a transmission including speed changing gears, the combination with a driving member and a driven member, of an overrunning clutch 55 including an inner clutch member and an outer clutch member, one of said members having cam surfaces, wedging members interposed between said clutch members, peripheral clutch teeth on said outer' clutch member, peripheral clutch 00 teeth on one of said driving and driven members,

a second set of peripheral teeth on one of said driving and' driven members, and a clutch member axially shiftable independently of said overgears having internal clutch teeth engaging with the clutch teeth on the .outer member ofy the overrunning clutch and the first set' of clutch teeth on one of said drivinglanddriven mern- 70 bers for connecting. the same together through vrunning clutch and any of said speed changing w train for driving said driven shaft from said driving shaft,vsaid gear being rotatably mounted on the driven clutch member axially and rotatably illxedI on cluding an inner member and an outer member,

one of saidjmembers having cam surfaces and wedging members interposed between said outer and innermemberssaid outer clutchmember y and wedging members displacement by K on thev driving shaft, and an axially shiftable clutch member shiftable independently of said overrunning clutch for coupling said driving and being held against axial driven shaftstogether through said overrunning clutch', said clutch member being also operable to connect said shafts together independently of said overrunning clutch."

6. The combination with a driving member and a driven member of an overrunning clutch interposed between said members including an inner clutch member and an outer clutch member, cam surfaces on one of said members and wedging members interposed between the inner and outer clutch members, peripheral clutch teeth on the outer overrunning clutch member, peripheral clutch teeth on one of said driving and driven members, a locking ring on said driven member having peripheral clutch teeth, and

an axially movable clutch member having sets shaft and axially xed thereon, a U

I .independently of said overrunning clutch.l said driving yshaft, an overrunning clutch in- Y Said, seal' and clutch ofv internal teeth for engagement with the teeth of the overrunning clutch member and 'the teeth of the driving member to connect for connecting said driving and driven members .member and an outer clutch member surrounding thev inner clutch member, one of saidclun members being connected to the driven member-vaud one of said clutch members having edn surfaces, wedging members interposed between said clutch members, clutch teeth on the. periphery of the outer clutch member, a locking member connected to the driven member, peripheral clutch teeth on the locking -member, clutch teet on`the driving member, and

an axially-shiftable clutch ring shiftable independently ot said overrunning clutch and any ofv said speed-chansin gears and having internal clutch teeth adapted to engage the teeth on the driving member and the teeth on the outer overrunning clutch member for connecting the driving and driven members through said overrunning clutch, or to engage the clutch teeth on the driving member andthe teeth on thev locking ring to connect the driving and 'driven members independently of the overrunning clutch.

. HENRY H. ROBBINS. 

